NEW ORLEANS – Navy had a unique and interesting offensive game plan against Tulane, which defended the triple option as well as any opponent last season.

The Green Wave returned eight starters on defense, including a pair of first team All-American Athletic Conference selections in defensive tackle Tanzel Smart and outside linebacker Nico Marley.

Offfensive coordinator Ivin Jasper knew the Midshipmen might struggle to move the football. That proved to be the case as Navy had to earn every yard in a 21-14 defeat of Tulane on Saturday night at Yulman Stadium.

"It's exactly what we expected. It was going to be a slugfest, a grind-it-out type of game," Jasper said. "It feels good to find a way to win against a tough defense like that."

Jasper pulled somewhat of a surprise by coming out throwing, calling pass plays on six of seven downs on Navy's opening possession. Quarterback Will Worth wound up attempting 12 passes with moderate success, completing five for 59 yards.

"We knew they would be loaded up to stop the run. We had to try to back them off a bit," Jasper explained afterward. "We just wanted to give them a different look."

Worth completed a 19-yard pass to wide receiver Jamir Tillman on a slant route late in the first quarter to jump-start Navy's first touchdown drive. He later converted a third-and-12 situation by connecting with Tillman on a sideline pass that was good for 14 yards.

"Will made some big throws to convert on third down. Hopefully, as the year goes along, we'll get better throwing the football so we can get teams to back off of us," Jasper said.

Dropping back to throw so often on the first series set up the quarterback draw, which Jasper called three times on Navy's second possession. However, the threat of deep throws did not stop Tulane from stacking the box with nine and 10 defenders.

Tulane employed a 5-3 defense that was anchored by a hefty front. Smart checks in at 305 pounds while fellow defensive tackle Braynon Edwards carries 350 pounds and proved equally hard to move.

Navy running game coordinator Ashley Ingram used 327-pound Maurice Morris at center quite a bit in an effort to match size with size. Starting center Parker Wade weighs 271 pounds and had some trouble with the nose tackle he was blocking head on.

Tulane's defensive strategy led Jasper to use the tight formation for the bulk of the game. That involves bringing the wide receivers in close to the line of scrimmage so they can help block linebackers and safeties.

"We had to account for all those guys inside, and we were also trying to get some two-for-one blocking schemes," Jasper said. "It's been our best formation. We have a lot of answers out of it, both blocking-wise and throwing the ball."

Worth wound up with career highs for rushing yards (111) and carries (26). Tulane was determined to take away the fullback, which is why Chris High and Shawn White combined for only 57 yards on 11 attempts. Almost half that total came on a 26-yard run by High.

"We knew they were going to try to make Will carry the football. I thought we could use the mid-line to pick up three and four yards inside, which we did do a good job of at times," Jasper said. "At the same time, we have some very talented slots and we had to get the ball in their hands."

Navy pitched the ball to the slotbacks four times in the first half and produced just 32 yards, most of which came on an 18-yard run by Toneo Gulley. Slotbacks got 10 pitches in the second half and were able to break some big gains.

"At halftime, we made some adjustments and got a hat for a hat as far as blocking on the perimeter," Jasper said. "We got the ball out there and Gulley made some great runs, Dishan made some nice runs. When it came down to it, let's do what we do best. We had to find a way to get the ball to our playmakers."

After managing only 139 total yards in the first half, Navy found some answers in the second half. The Midshipmen amassed 207 of their 287 rushing yards after intermission as the Green Wave defense wore down.

"We were able to pick up some chunks of yardage here and there. We would have had more to show for it if we didn't turn the football over," Jasper said.

Navy lost a pair of fumbles in Tulane territory with Romine and fellow slotback Tre Walker responsible for the miscues. Walker was not holding the football tight enough and had it jarred loose by safety Jarrod Franklin, whose helmet caused the fumble. Worth was partially to blame for the other fumble as his pitch was low and long. However, it hit Romine in the hands.

"We can deal with missing reads or missing assignments, but turning the football over is unacceptable," Jasper said. "We preach ball security all the time and harp on it. We think it's something that should never happen. You have to catch the football, you have to hold onto the football. We work on it every day."

Worth showed his leadership and determination by directing a long touchdown drive when Navy needed it most. The Midshipmen took over at their own 28-yard line following a missed field goal and proceeded to march 72 yards in 10 plays while taking almost five minutes off the clock.

Worth delivered the big play that brought the ball into Tulane territory, finding a nice hole just inside the tackle on an option keeper then cutting back and racing 31 yards to the home team's 23-yard line. It was an outside zone play Jasper had called a few times in the game and the Mids had failed to break.

"We'd run that play once or twice before in the game and there was just one block here, one block there that could have set it free. We got them all (blocks) on that drive," Worth said of the long run that set up the game-winning score.

However, most of Worth's rushing total came on tough inside runs on which he lowered his shoulders, broke tackles and gained yardage after contact.

"We just want Will to be who he is and do what he does best. He's a hard-nosed kid with good size and strength who doesn't go down easily," Jasper said.